Blog Archive: December 2014

Jūlijs Straume: Caucasus on my mind; exhibition at Tbilisi State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia

31 December, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 132 seen

Jūlijs Straume, was a renowned Latvian artist who left a lasting impact on the art world. Despite his passing, his legacy lives on through the active efforts of the Latvian Diaspora in Georgia, who continue to honor his works.

Jūlijs Straume (July 2, 1874 - November 1, 1970) was a Latvian textile artist, educator, and ethnographer, and an Honored Art Worker of the Latvian SSR. He studied in Jelgava and St. Petersburg and later refined his skills in Paris (1905-1907).

From 1907 to 1923, he lived in Georgia, where he collected and studied the folk decorative and applied arts of the Caucasus. During this time, he compiled a rich collection of folk weavings, or carpets, which he later published in the album "Caucasian Carpets" (Volume 1, 1913). Straume created sketches of carpets using typical Latvian applied arts folklore and ethnographic motifs, applying the principle of oriental composition.

After his time in Georgia, he returned to Latvia and continued to work as an artist and educator. Straume died on November 1, 1970, in Riga, Latvia.

Recently, I had the privilege of attending an exhibition at the State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia, where I had the opportunity to witness firsthand the artistry and talent of Jūlijs Straume. It was a truly memorable experience and a testament to the enduring power and appeal of his works.

State Museum of Folk and Applied Arts of Georgia

Book published by Jūlijs Straume

Though Jūlijs Straume is known for his work of research on Caucasus carpet patterns, he just logical was a traveler also, and he documented many remote places in Georgia and Caucasus, a lot of photographies were found in this book.

Photographies by Jūlijs Straume (start of 20th century)

Jūlijs Straume Library

There is even a Library named after a famous Latvian

Carpet patterns

Here is a thing - Jūlijs did photograph carpet patterns, but back then there were no color photos, so he hand-colored his B&W photographies

Straume Library sign

Some technical information

Carpet

Carpet

Those of you familiar with Lithuanian Vytas will find some similarities, on the other hand, it might be Saint Michael...

More carpet patterns

The Georgian State Museum of Folk and Applied Art houses collections of XIX-XX c.c. craft works from Georgia and other Caucasian nations. The museum features displays of gold and silver items, adornments, belts, weapons, household objects, and collections of Caucasian rugs and carpets, silk, leather, heavy cloth, felt objects, Khevsiretian clothes, embroidery samples, tapestry, local musical instruments, and folk craft objects. The museum also stores works by Jūlijs Straume, including a rich collection of drawings based on the Caucasian ethnographic material, such as ornament patterns and sketches.

White Christmas in Bakuriani (2014)

30 December, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 11 seen

For the second year in a row, we decided to celebrate Christmas in Bakuriani, a remote mountain resort city in Georgia. 

While some may choose Bakuriani as a skiing destination, we opted for a white Christmas location. Originally, we planned to take a minibus, but we were persuaded by a taxi driver to travel with him for 70 GEL (after bargaining down from 100 GEL).

Below are some snapshots I took of Bakuriani with my Sony camera.

Bakuriani sign - for me it looks like it have kept from Soviet times, but I might be wrong.

Didveli skiing map - though they have skiing maps around the city, I didn't find much skiers at the Christmas time here, rumour has it - they will come latter.

Playground in Bakuriani - locals get fun at public playground,

Handmade goodies at Bakuriani - honey, jam and other goodies in honey or jam (average price 10 GEL)

Up at Didveli 

Hill's Hut - one and only restaurant up in the mountain

Christmas tree at Hill's Hut

Ski run at Bakuriani

Ski lifts at Bakuriani (Didveli) - ticket price per person 4GEL 

View to mountains at Bakuriani

What can I add to this - while Bakuriani, probably is popular skiing resort for some in Georgia. I can tell you just once - the city lacks infrastructure. 

About Bakuriani

Bakuriani  is a skiing resort in the Borjomi district of Georgia. It is located on the northern slope of the Trialeti Range, at an elevation of 1,700 meters (5,576 feet) above sea level. The region around Bakuriani is covered by coniferous forests (mainly made up of spruce). The resort lies 30 km (19 mi) from Borjomi and is located within the so-called Bakuriani Depression/caldera. The resort is connected with Borjomi by an electrified narrow-gauge railway.

The present-day area of the town was built up by the lava flows from the Mukheri volcano. The highest mountain of the resort used for skiing is called Mount Kohta at around 2,200 meters (7,216 feet) above sea level.

The climate of Bakuriani is transitional from humid maritime to relatively humid continental. The winters are cold and experience significant snowfall while the summers are long and warm. Average annual temperature of the town is 4.3 degrees Celsius. The average temperature in January is -7.3 degrees Celsius while the average August temperature is 15 degrees Celsius. The annual precipitation is 734 mm (28.9 in). The depth of snow from December to March is 64 cm (25.2 in).

Bakuriani is also home to the Botanical Garden of the Georgian Academy of Sciences. It was the home town of luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died during event training on the first day of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada. He lived in Bakuriani for much his life, and the street he lived on was named in his honor after his death. Georgia's flag-bearing athlete at the opening ceremony, alpine skier Iason Abramashvili, also resides there; he has decided to compete to honor Kumaritashvili's memory.

The 37 km Borjomi-Bakuriani railway "Kukushka" uses 912 mm track gauge. A few km south of Bakuriani lies the trajectory of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline.

Best Laptop Deals 2023: Top 6 Models to Consider

29 December, 2014 | Laptop Reviews | 4 seen

Laptops are essential tools for many people, whether for work, school, or entertainment. With 2023 just starting, many laptop manufacturers are offering great deals on their latest models. This article will showcase the top laptop deals for 2023, with a focus on value for money. We've selected these laptops based on a variety of criteria, including price, features, and customer reviews.

Whether you're looking for a budget-friendly option or a high-end machine, you're sure to find something that suits your needs in this guide.

Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links to Amazon. This means that if you make a purchase through one of these links, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.

Dell XPS 13

The Dell XPS 13 is a popular laptop model that has been updated for 2023 with some impressive features. It features a 13.4-inch display with a resolution of 1920x1200, which is bright and vibrant. The laptop is slim and lightweight, making it easy to carry around. The Dell XPS 13 is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i5 processor, making it a powerful and efficient machine. It also features 8GB of RAM and a 256GB solid-state drive, providing plenty of storage space for your files and applications. The laptop's battery life is also impressive, lasting up to 14 hours on a single charge. The Dell XPS 13 also has a backlit keyboard and a large touchpad, making it easy to type and navigate. Overall, the Dell XPS 13 is a top pick for those looking for a slim and powerful laptop with a great display.

HP Spectre x360

The HP Spectre x360 is a 2-in-1 laptop that offers a lot of versatility and power. It has a sleek and modern design, with a 13.3-inch Full HD touch display that is bright and vibrant. The laptop is powered by an 11th Gen Intel Core i7 processor, which makes it fast and efficient. It also comes with 16GB of RAM and a 1TB solid-state drive, providing plenty of space for your files and applications. The HP Spectre x360 also has a long battery life, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. The laptop can be used in four different modes - laptop, tablet, stand, and tent - making it a great choice for those who need a versatile device for work or play. The keyboard is backlit and comfortable to type on, and the laptop also has a built-in fingerprint reader for added security. The HP Spectre x360 is a top pick for those looking for a powerful 2-in-1 laptop with great features and design.

ASUS ZenBook 14

The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a compact and powerful laptop that is perfect for those who need to be productive on the go. It features a 14-inch Full HD display with ultra-narrow bezels, giving you a larger viewing area in a smaller footprint. The laptop is powered by an AMD Ryzen 7 processor, which provides fast and efficient performance. It also comes with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB solid-state drive, providing plenty of space for your files and applications. The ASUS ZenBook 14 also has a long battery life, lasting up to 12 hours on a single charge. The laptop is slim and lightweight, making it easy to carry around with you wherever you go. It has a durable build quality, with a brushed metal finish that looks stylish and modern. The keyboard is backlit and comfortable to type on, and the laptop also has a built-in fingerprint reader for added security. The ASUS ZenBook 14 is a great choice for those who need a powerful and portable laptop that can keep up with their busy lifestyle.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a high-end business laptop that's designed for professionals who need power and performance on the go. The laptop features a sleek and slim design that's both lightweight and durable, making it easy to carry around. It comes with a 14-inch Full HD display that delivers sharp and clear visuals. The laptop is powered by an Intel Core i7 processor and 16GB of RAM, providing speedy and efficient performance. It also comes with a fast and reliable 512GB solid-state drive that offers plenty of storage space for your files and applications. The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon has a long battery life, lasting up to 18.5 hours on a single charge, making it ideal for all-day use. The laptop also has a comfortable and responsive keyboard that's perfect for typing on for long periods of time. Additionally, the ThinkPad X1 Carbon comes with built-in security features, such as a fingerprint reader and a webcam privacy shutter, to keep your data and personal information safe. Overall, the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon is a high-quality laptop that offers great performance and features for business professionals who need a reliable and portable device.

Acer Predator Helios 300

The Acer Predator Helios 300 is a powerful gaming laptop designed for gamers who demand high performance and immersive gaming experiences. The laptop is powered by a 10th generation Intel Core i7 processor and features an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 graphics card, providing lightning-fast processing speeds and delivering vivid, high-quality graphics. The 15.6-inch Full HD display has a 144Hz refresh rate, making it ideal for fast-paced gaming. The laptop also comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM and a 512GB NVMe SSD for fast storage and boot times.

The Acer Predator Helios 300 has a sleek and modern design, with a black aluminum chassis and blue LED lighting accents. The laptop is equipped with a comfortable backlit keyboard that has a dedicated numeric keypad, making it easy to use for gaming or work. The keyboard also features a Turbo button that boosts the performance of the laptop for intense gaming sessions.

The Predator Helios 300 has a range of connectivity options, including HDMI, USB 3.2 Type-C, and USB 3.2 Type-A ports, as well as Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity. The laptop also features a dual-fan cooling system that helps to keep the system cool during demanding gaming sessions.

Overall, the Acer Predator Helios 300 is an excellent choice for gamers who want a high-performance gaming laptop that's both powerful and stylish. Its powerful hardware, modern design, and comfortable keyboard make it a great option for anyone who needs a laptop that can handle intensive gaming or demanding workloads.

MacBook Air M2

The MacBook Air M2 is a laptop that is built to deliver high performance and power efficiency. It is equipped with the latest Apple M2 chip, which is designed to offer faster processing speed, improved battery life, and superior graphics performance. The laptop has a 13.3-inch Retina display with True Tone technology that adjusts the display’s white balance to the ambient light for a more natural viewing experience. The MacBook Air M2 also features a Touch ID fingerprint sensor that allows for easy and secure login to the laptop.

The MacBook Air M2 has 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU with 8GB unified memory, providing smooth and fast performance for everyday tasks, such as browsing the web, editing documents, or streaming videos. The laptop comes with 256GB or 512GB SSD storage, providing ample storage space for files, documents, and media. The laptop’s battery life is rated up to 18 hours, allowing users to work, play, and stream for an extended period without needing to recharge.

The laptop has two Thunderbolt 4 ports that support up to 40Gb/s data transfer, allowing users to connect to external devices such as displays and storage drives. It also has Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity, providing seamless wireless connectivity for web browsing, file transfer, and online communication.

The MacBook Air M2 has a sleek and lightweight design, weighing just 2.8 pounds, making it easy to carry around. The laptop is available in three colors: Gold, Silver, and Space Gray, giving users options to choose from to match their style.

Overall, the MacBook Air M2 is a powerful, sleek, and portable laptop that is designed to deliver top-notch performance and power efficiency.

FAQs:

Are these laptops good for everyday use?

Yes, all of the laptops featured in this guide are suitable for everyday use, whether for work or personal use.

Are these deals available in all countries?

The availability of these deals may vary depending on your location and the retailer. However, most of these laptops are sold globally and can be found on major online retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy, and Newegg.

Can I upgrade the RAM or storage on these laptops?

In most cases, yes. However, it's always best to check the specifications and consult with the manufacturer or a professional before attempting to upgrade any hardware.

How long do these laptops last?

The lifespan of a laptop can vary depending on usage, care, and maintenance. However, all of the laptops featured in this guide are built to last and come with manufacturer warranties to ensure quality and longevity.

Summary:

In summary, there are many great laptop deals available for 2023, ranging from ultraportable options to high-end gaming machines. The Dell XPS 13, HP Spectre x360, ASUS ZenBook 14, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon, Acer Predator Helios 300, and MacBook Air M2 are all excellent choices that offer value for money. Whether you're a student, a business professional, or a casual user, there's a laptop on this list that will meet your needs and budget. Be sure to check out these deals while they last and take advantage of the discounts to upgrade your tech game.

Best Tablets for Students, Creatives, and Professionals in 2023

29 December, 2014 | Laptop Reviews | 10 seen

With the rise of mobile computing and remote work, tablets have become essential devices for professionals and casual users alike. Tablets are portable, versatile, and can perform many of the functions of a laptop, while remaining more compact and convenient to carry around. However, with so many tablets on the market, it can be difficult to choose the right one for your needs.

In this article, we'll take a look at some of the top tablets available today and help you find the perfect one for your lifestyle.

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Apple iPad Pro

The Apple iPad Pro is one of the most popular tablets on the market, and for good reason. It offers a large, high-quality display, powerful performance, and a range of features that make it perfect for both personal and professional use. Some of the key features of the iPad Pro include:

• Large, high-resolution display: The iPad Pro features a large 12.9-inch display with a resolution of 2732 x 2048 pixels, making it perfect for streaming video, browsing the web, or working on documents.
• Powerful performance: The iPad Pro is equipped with Apple's A12Z Bionic chip, which delivers fast and responsive performance for even the most demanding tasks.
• Apple Pencil support: The iPad Pro supports Apple's Pencil, a stylus that allows you to take notes, draw, and sketch with precision and accuracy.
• Face ID: The iPad Pro uses Face ID technology to securely unlock the device and authorize purchases and downloads.

While the iPad Pro is one of the most expensive tablets on the market, its powerful performance and range of features make it an excellent choice for professionals or anyone who needs a powerful tablet for work or play.

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+

The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is another popular tablet that offers a range of features and capabilities. Some of the key features of the Tab S7+ include:

• Large, high-resolution display: The Tab S7+ features a large 12.4-inch Super AMOLED display with a resolution of 2800 x 1752 pixels, making it perfect for streaming video and working on documents.
• Powerful performance: The Tab S7+ is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ processor, which delivers fast and responsive performance for even the most demanding tasks.
• S Pen support: The Tab S7+ comes with an S Pen stylus that allows you to take notes, draw, and sketch with precision and accuracy.
• 5G support: The Tab S7+ supports 5G connectivity, making it perfect for remote work and streaming video on the go.

Overall, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ is a powerful and versatile tablet that offers a range of features and capabilities.

Microsoft Surface Pro 7

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a tablet that's designed with productivity in mind. Some of the key features of the Surface Pro 7 include:

• High-quality display: The Surface Pro 7 features a 12.3-inch PixelSense display with a resolution of 2736 x 1824 pixels, making it perfect for working on documents or streaming video.
• Powerful performance: The Surface Pro 7 is equipped with a 10th Gen Intel Core processor, which delivers fast and responsive performance for even the most demanding tasks.
• Type Cover support: The Surface Pro 7 supports Microsoft's Type Cover, a keyboard cover that allows you to turn the tablet into a laptop-like device.
• Surface Pen support: The Surface Pro 7 supports Microsoft's Surface Pen, a stylus that allows you to take notes, draw, and sketch with precision and accuracy.

Overall, the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a powerful and versatile tablet that's perfect for anyone who needs a device for work and productivity.

Amazon Fire HD 10

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is a budget-friendly tablet that's perfect for casual users who don't need the advanced features of more expensive devices. Some of the key features of the Fire HD 10 include:

• Large, high-resolution display: The Fire HD 10 features a large 10.1-inch display with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels, making it perfect for streaming video and browsing the web.
• Alexa support: The Fire HD 10 features Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant, which allows you to control your tablet with your voice and access a range of features and services.
• Long battery life: The Fire HD 10 offers up to 12 hours of battery life, making it perfect for use on long flights or road trips.
• Low price point: The Fire HD 10 is one of the most affordable tablets on the market, making it perfect for anyone on a budget.

While the Fire HD 10 doesn't offer the advanced features of more expensive tablets, its low price point and range of features make it a great choice for casual users.

Lenovo Tab P11 Pro

The Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a versatile and powerful tablet that's perfect for both personal and professional use. Some of the key features of the Tab P11 Pro include:

• Large, high-resolution display: The Tab P11 Pro features a large 11.5-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels, making it perfect for streaming video and working on documents.
• Powerful performance: The Tab P11 Pro is equipped with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 730G processor, which delivers fast and responsive performance for even the most demanding tasks.
• Dual rear cameras: The Tab P11 Pro features two rear-facing cameras, a 13MP main camera and a 5MP ultra-wide camera, making it perfect for taking photos and videos.
• Fingerprint sensor: The Tab P11 Pro features a fingerprint sensor for secure login and authentication.

Overall, the Lenovo Tab P11 Pro is a versatile and powerful tablet that's perfect for anyone who needs a device for work and play.

iPad Air

The iPad Air is a mid-range tablet that offers a range of features and capabilities. Some of the key features of the iPad Air include:

• Large, high-resolution display: The iPad Air features a large 10.9-inch display with a resolution of 2360 x 1640 pixels, making it perfect for streaming video and working on documents.
• Powerful performance: The iPad Air is equipped with Apple's A14 Bionic chip, which delivers fast and responsive performance for even the most demanding tasks.
• Apple Pencil support: The iPad Air supports Apple's Pencil, a stylus that allows you to take notes, draw, and sketch with precision and accuracy.
• Touch ID: The iPad Air uses Touch ID technology to securely unlock the device and authorize purchases and downloads.

Overall, the iPad Air is a versatile and powerful tablet that offers a range of features and capabilities at a mid-range price point.

FAQs

Which tablet is best for reading books?

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is a great choice for reading books, thanks to its large, high-resolution display and long battery life.

Can I use a tablet for gaming?

Yes, many tablets are capable of running a range of popular games. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ and the Apple iPad Pro are both great choices for gaming.

What's the best tablet for video conferencing?

The Microsoft Surface Pro 7 is a great choice for video conferencing, thanks to its powerful performance and support for accessories like the Type Cover and Surface Pen.

Which tablet is the most affordable?

The Amazon Fire HD 10 is one of the most affordable tablets on the market, making it a great choice for anyone on a budget.

What's the best tablet for artists and designers?

The Apple iPad Pro is the best tablet for artists and designers, thanks to its high-resolution display, support for the Apple Pencil, and powerful performance.

Can I use a tablet as a laptop replacement?

Yes, many tablets can be used as a laptop replacement, especially those with detachable keyboards like the Microsoft Surface Pro 7 and the Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+.

Summary

In conclusion, there are many great tablets on the market today, each with its own set of features and capabilities. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+, Microsoft Surface Pro 7, Apple iPad Pro, Amazon Fire HD 10, Lenovo Tab P11 Pro, and iPad Air are all excellent choices for anyone looking for a new tablet. When making your decision, consider factors like display size and resolution, performance, battery life, and any specific features or accessories you may need. With the right tablet, you can stay connected, productive, and entertained no matter where you are.

Minimum Wages in Baltic States 2015

28 December, 2014 | Macroeconomics | 10 seen

The Baltic States, which include Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, have been recognized as one of the fastest-growing regions in the European Union. The region has experienced significant economic development, attracting foreign investment, and becoming a hub for technology, finance, and other sectors. One crucial aspect of this growth is the regulation of minimum wages.

In 2015, the minimum wages in the Baltic States were as follows:

It is important to note that the minimum wage in each country is subject to change depending on the economic situation, political decisions, and other factors. The Baltic States have been actively working towards increasing the minimum wage, in order to support low-income workers and boost economic growth.

In conclusion, the minimum wages in the Baltic States have been increasing steadily in recent years, reflecting the region's economic growth and development. While the minimum wage may not be sufficient to support a comfortable standard of living, it serves as an important benchmark for ensuring fair compensation for workers. The governments of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have set ambitious targets for further increasing the minimum wage in the coming years, which bodes well for the future of the region.

Exploring the Future of Transportation: The Dallas-Houston High-Speed Rail

28 December, 2014 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 13 seen

Back in 2013, we embarked on an epic journey across the United States that began at JFK Airport in New York City and ended in Houston, Texas. Although we had initially planned to reach the West Coast, we eventually decided to cut our trip short due to two reasons: we were travelling on a budget using Megabus, and we were exhausted after a month on the road.

While Megabus was an affordable option for us, there were no other economical choices to reach the West Coast. This led us to reflect on the transportation options in the United States. It became clear that unlike in Europe, high-speed trains were not a popular mode of transportation in the United States. Instead, many Americans preferred air travel, even for short distances like Dallas to Houston.

However, after seven years, a time and cost-effective alternative may soon become available. Plans are underway to build a high-speed rail network connecting Dallas and Houston, which would be the first of its kind in the United States. This 240-mile project is expected to take only 90 minutes, with an estimated completion date of 2021, pending federal approval and funding.

During a public meeting in Dallas, potential locations for the line's endpoints were unveiled. The downtown station would make it easier for the project to tie into existing public transit at both end points. Dallas City Council members lobbied for Union Station to serve as the North Texas terminus. This station serves two Dallas Area Rapid Transit light-rail lines, an Amtrak line and the TRE passenger train that connects Dallas and Fort Worth.

The company planning the high-speed rail project, Texas Central Railway, plans to build the entire project with private funds and has already begun soliciting investors. Although the company has not disclosed the project's cost, it is estimated to be approximately $10 billion. The company also has the power to use eminent domain for the project, with two routes selected for closer consideration that largely follow existing rail lines or utility rights of way, which would minimize the need for land purchases or seizure.

With a projected growth in population, officials estimate that the drive from Dallas to Houston, which currently takes about four hours, could take six hours by 2035. They estimate the average speed on I-45 between the two cities will drop from 60 mph to 40 mph over that time. The high-speed rail network is expected to become the biggest game-changer in transportation since the establishment of the federal highway system.

In conclusion, the Dallas-Houston high-speed rail project will bring a significant shift in transportation and travel between these two major cities in Texas. It is a fascinating development that will change the way people travel, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming years.

5 Essential Tips for Optimizing Your Website for Mobile SEO

27 December, 2014 | Blogging | 6 seen

With the rise of mobile devices and the increasing number of mobile searches, optimizing your website for mobile SEO has become more important than ever. In fact, Google has even announced that mobile-first indexing will become the default for all new websites starting from March 2021.

This means that your website's mobile version will be the primary version Google will index and use for ranking purposes.

So, what can you do to ensure that your website is optimized for mobile SEO? Here are some tips:

In conclusion, optimizing your website for mobile SEO is no longer optional. With the increasing number of mobile users and Google's mobile-first indexing, it's essential to ensure that your website is mobile-friendly, fast-loading, and optimized for local and voice search. By following the tips outlined above, you can improve your website's mobile SEO and provide a better user experience for your mobile visitors. 

Considering hiring me to optimize your website for SEO

Istanbul - Konya - New High Speed Train in Turkey

23 December, 2014 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 6 seen

<p>I have travelled by train in Turkey just once back in 2011 from Ankara to Izmir. That route went some 15-17 hours... It's damned boring thing. Well I'm glad I took that ride of course, but I'm more glad to learn that Turkey is investing much in it's train infrastructure. And I'm sure I will use Istanbul - Konya high speed line in future.</p><p>Recently (on December 17, 2014) a new high speed line Istanbul - Konya has been launched and here is the real gain:</p><p><strong>The Istanbul-Konya journey time on the high speed line is four hours 15 minutes, compared to 13 hours on the old trains</strong></p><p>President (Turkish) Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated a high speed train link from Istanbul to the Central Anatolian city of Konya on Dec. 17, which cuts journey times by nearly nine hours.</p><p>Erdoğan himself opened the line at a ceremony in Konya, 460 kilometers southeast of Istanbul, and declared that <strong>all travel on it would be free for the first week</strong>.</p><p>The president said the line was the latest step in his multi-billion dollar drive to modernize Turkey.</p><blockquote><p>"For decades, we only sat back and watched developments taking place in the West. We could see high speed trains only on TV and see planes only when we lay down on the ground and looked up to the sky,"</p></blockquote><p>Erdoğan said in a televised speech.</p><blockquote><p>"But thanks to us, Turkey has gone through a great transformation in 12 years. We have cleared the way for our people,"</p></blockquote><p>he added.</p><p>Religiously conservative Konya, which has a population of over one million, is a key economic hub in central Turkey and a stronghold of support for the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).</p><p>The Istanbul-Konya journey time on the high speed line is four hours 15 minutes, compared to 13 hours on the old trains. Two departures are planned a day, with tickets starting at 42.5 Turkish Liras ($18).</p><p>Erdoğan is pressing ahead with plans to build a high speed train network across Turkey, which has so far lagged behind Europe in railways with most journeys made by road or plane. In July he inaugurated the first high speed train line between Istanbul and Ankara, which cut journey times in half to just 3.5 hours.</p><p>There is already a high speed line between Ankara and Konya.</p><p><strong>Used resources:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkey-unveils-new-high-speed-train-to… by:&nbsp;AA Photo</li></ul><p>&nbsp;</p>

Nginx redirect domain name to another domain

21 December, 2014 | Servers | 22 seen

Redirecting website visitors to a different domain name using Nginx is simple.

Add the following code to your server config: 

Restart Nginx

Food Blogger: Gingerbread Dough Recipe

21 December, 2014 | Food blogger | 5 seen

<p>In this article I'm going to show how one (perhaps you) can prepare a gingerbread dough at home.&nbsp;</p><h2>Ingredients:</h2><p><strong>You will need:</strong> <em>butter, flour, eggs, salt&amp;sugar, malt, spices</em></p><p>It all starts with butter</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/butter.jpg&quot; alt="Butter" title="Butter" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Butter&nbsp;</em></p><p>Since I'm <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/living-georgia">living in Georgia</a> - most of the ingredients used in this recipe are local Georgian</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/fluor_0.jpg&quot; alt="Fluor" title="Fluor" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Flour</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/eggs.jpg&quot; alt="Eggs" title="Eggs" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Eggs</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/suggar.jpg&quot; alt="Suggar" title="Suggar" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Sugar</em></p><p>It's better if you have a brown sugar. We didn't find any brown sugar so we used a regular white sugar.</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/malt.jpg&quot; alt="Malt" title="Malt" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Malt</em></p><p>We bought this Malt about a year ago at <a title="Carrefour Tbilisi" href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/shopping-georgia-tbilisi-mall">local Carrefour store</a>, as we knew -<strong> this day will come</strong></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/species.jpg&quot; alt="Spices" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Spices</em></p><p>Cinnamon, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg</p><h2>Tools:</h2><p><strong>You will need:</strong> <em>coffee mills, a grater</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/straume.jpg&quot; alt="vintage coffee mill - Straume" title="vintage coffee mill - Straume" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>a&nbsp;<span style="line-height: 1.538em;">vintage coffee mill - Straume</span></em></p><p>"Straume" coffee mills - used to be a Soviet flagship - in has to be in every household</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/grater.jpg&quot; alt="grater" title="grater" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>grater</em></p><p>You will need a grater to grate a peel (oranges/mandarins)</p><h2>Preperation</h2><p>Basically it all comes down to melt a butter, brown a sugar, add a flour, stir well, ad some spices and malt and of course the kneading of dough.</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/suggarbutter.jpg&quot; alt="Melt a butter, brown a suggar" title="Melt a butter, brown a suggar" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Melt a butter, brown a sugar</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/addamalt.jpg&quot; alt="add a malt" title="add a malt" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Add a malt</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/addafluor.jpg&quot; alt="Add a fluor" title="Add a fluor" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Add a flour</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/stir.jpg&quot; alt="Don't forget to stir well" title="Don't forget to stir well" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Don't forget to stir well</em></p><p>Finally - &nbsp;when you feel consistence of dough is ready you should knead it</p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/gingerbreadman.jpg&quot; alt="Gingerbread man" title="Gingerbread man" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Gingerbread man</em></p><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/foil.jpg&quot; alt="Foil" title="Foil" width="640" height="640"></p><p><em>Put your gingerbread dough in a foil and store it in your fridge for couple of days.</em></p><p><em>Huh - that was a long photo post, right - the funny thing, to write about food is super complicated, if honest I learned a lot of new words in English. to knead a dough, for example.</em></p><h2>So here comes the short version:</h2><ul><li><span style="line-height: 1.538em;">Pour into a pot a malt and sugar, bring up to the boil. Add half of flour, add spices, stir with wooded spoon until the dough separates from pot.</span></li><li><span style="line-height: 1.538em;">Add scrambled egg and rest of the flour.</span></li></ul>

History of Tram and Trolleybus systems in Tbilisi and Georgia

18 December, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 467 seen

Currently (2022) there are no tram or trolley lines in Tbilisi, but not so long ago in history, there were plenty of tram and trolleybus lines not only in Tbilisi but also in Batumi, Kutaisi, Gori, Zugdidi, Ozurgeti, Poti, Rustavi, and even Chiatura. 

What has happened to once pretty impressive routes of trams and trolleys in Georgia?  I guess the harsh history happened. After the Collapse of the Soviet Union - Georgia got troubled with civil wars, and economic hardships so neither trams nor trolleys were a priority.

While you are exploring bits of Georgian history, consider Batumi Real Estate Crypto Investment

I have found an interesting resource http://photo.tramvaj.ru/ (In the Russian language) where some almost 20-year-old pictures (dated 2003) with trams and trolleys in Georgia are listed. Author of all images listed below: © Mike Russell, Reading, GB. Pictures were taken at the begging of September 2003.

You can read the original here: http://photo.tramvaj.ru/georg2003.htm

Tbilisi Tram

From Wikipedia: Tbilisi had a tram network, since 1883 starting from horse driven trams and from 25 December 1904 electric tramway. When the Soviet Union disintegrated, electric transport went to a degradation state within the years and finally the only tram line left was closed on 4 December 2006 together with two trolleybus lines which were left. There are plans to construct a modern tram network. 

Tbilisi Tram

Car Nr 599 on Route 12 (Didube - Avchala)

Tbilisi Tram KTM 5

Car Nr 181 on Metro Station Didube

Tbilisi Tram Nr 7 (Isaani Line) KTM -5 car

Tbilisi Trolley

In service from April 21, 1937 to December 4, 2006

Tbilisi Trolley Škoda 14Tr

Tbilisi Trolleybus Škoda

Škoda Trolleybus painted green in Tbilisi

To make it more easy to maintan looks they have decided not to use secondary doors.

ZiU-9 Trolleybus at Vake

ZiU-9 Trolleybus on its route (Tbilisi suburbs)

ZiU-9 Trolleybus on Rustaveli Prospect

Tbilisi Troleybuses

Gori Trolleybus

Included interurban line to Tiniskhidi village. In service May 1, 1972 - March 24, 2010

Trolleybuses in Gori

ZIU-9 Trolleybus in Gori

Zugdidi Trolleybus

In service: February 25, 1986 - July 2009

Zugdidi Trolleybus

There was only one route in Zugdidi, ZIU-9 and Škoda trolleybuses run on it.

Ozurgeti Trolleybus

Included interurban line to Dvabzu village. In service: November 28, 1980 - June 2006

Ozurgeti Trolleybus

Poti Trolleybus

Included interurban line to Maltakva village. In service: May 9, 1981 - December 2004

Poti Trolleybus

Rumor has they didn't have enough eletricity to power those ZIU-9 trolleybuses in Poti

Batumi Trolleybus

Included two interurban lines to Makhinjauri and Khelvachauri. In service: November 6, 1978 - 2005

Batumi Trolleybus

Kutaisi Trolleybus

In service: September 11, 1949 - July 25, 2009

Kutaisi Trolleybus

ZIU-9 Trolleybus in Kutaisi

Chiatura Trolleybus

Interurban line to Sachkhere. In service: November 7, 1967 - 2008

Trolleybus in Chiatura

There was a trolleybus line Chiatura - Sachkhere

Rustavi Trolleybus

In service: February 16, 1971 - September 24, 2009

Rustavi trolleybus

As you can see from those pictures taken more than 10 years ago - neither trolleys or trams, neither roads looks in their shape. I guess it's just logical that those lines were abandoed after all. On other hand it's sad. It's sad there were on investments made to upgrade existing cars, modernize lines. After all both trams and trolleys are "green". In our days there is a lot of talk of sustansable energy in Georgia, so I pressume some lines might return, at least to Tbilisi somewere in future.

Used resources:

• http://photo.tramvaj.ru/georg2003.htm
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tbilisi#Tram
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_trolleybus_systems#cite_note-7

First High Speed Railway Launched in Poland

17 December, 2014 | Railway / Bus / Ferry | 113 seen

<p>On this lovely 17th December afternoon I decided to add a new blog category to my blog - <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/railway">Railway</a>.</p><p>Railway is a transport system I have been interested ever since I can remember my self.&nbsp;</p><p>Railways (<strong>as I like to think</strong>) is a back-bone of country's economy. Railway system is a mirror which reflects economical growth and stability.<strong> On the other hand Railway has lost it's importance it had in 19th century</strong>. Railway symbolizes industrialization (<strong>again, at least for me</strong>).</p><p>Though we are living in times when importance of Railway is decreasing there are still many regions in World where Railway is just yet to be developed.&nbsp;</p><p>For a last 3 years I have been paid some interest of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project (it's more cargo) connecting <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/caucasus-overview">Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey</a>. I have paid a huge interest of Rail Baltic project which should connect Helsinki, Tallinn, Riga, Vilnius and Warsaw any-time soon.</p><h2>High Speed Railway service has been opened in Poland</h2><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/polandrailway.jpg&quot; alt="Railway Map in Poland" title="Railway Map in Poland" width="600" height="487"></p><p><em>Railway Map in Poland (Image source: www.railwaypro.com)</em></p><p>High speed rail service commenced in Poland on the 14th of December, 2014, with the introduction of 20 non-tilting Pendolino trainsets operating on 4 designated lines radiating out from Warsaw.</p><p>Polish State Railways started passenger service trains PKP Pendolino operating a speed 200 km/h on 80 km line Olszamowice-Zawiercie (part of railway line called CMK, from Warsaw to Cracow). Polish state railways PKP launched the high speed service under the Express Intercity Premium (EIP) brand name.</p><p>PKP Intercity is initially using nine sets a day to operate 23 EIP services from Warszawa to Gdynia, Kraków, Katowice, and Wrocław. Most operate on the core Kraków – Warszawa – Gdańsk – Gdynia route, running hourly at peak times and every 2 h off-peak. There are two Pendolinos each way per day on the Katowice and Wrocław routes. Headline journey times are 2 h 58 min from Warszawa to Gdańsk, 2 h 28 min to Kraków and 2 h 34 min to Katowice. EIP services from Warszawa to Wrocław run via the CMK trunk line, Częstochowa and Opole, taking 3 h 42 min against up to 6 h for the previous route via Poznań.</p><p>In addition to the Central Rail Line from Warsaw to Kraków and Katowice, and from Warsaw to Wrocław, the Pendolinos also operate on the 350 km (221 miles) route from Warsaw to Gdańsk and Gdynia on the Baltic Sea. In 2011-2015 the Warsaw-Gdańsk-Gdynia route is undergoing a major upgrading costing $3 billion, partly funded by the European Investment Bank, including track replacement, realignment of curves and relocation of sections of track to allow speeds up to 200 km/h (124 mph), modernization of stations, and installation of European Train Control System Level 2, which is to be completed in June 2015.</p><p>When Pendolino services started on 14 December 2014 the previous Warsaw-Gdańsk rail travel time of 4-1/2 to 6 hours was reduced to 2 hours 58 minutes by Pendolino, and will be reduced further to 2 hours 40 minutes when upgrading is completed.</p><h2>About Pendolino tilting trains</h2><p><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/pendolino.jpg&quot; alt="A PKP Intercity ED250 Pendolino" title="A PKP Intercity ED250 Pendolino" width="800" height="600"></p><p><em>A PKP Intercity ED250 Pendolino (Image author:&nbsp;Andrzej Otrębski)</em></p><p><span><span>Pendolino is an Italian family of tilting trains used in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russian Federation, the Czech Republic, the United Kingdom, Slovakia, Switzerland, China, Poland and shortly in Romania. </span></span></p><p><span><span>Based on the design of the Italian ETR 401 and the British Advanced Passenger Train, it was further developed and manufactured by Fiat Ferroviaria, which was taken over by Alstom in 2000. The idea of a tilting train became popular in the 1960s and 1970s when various rail operators, impressed by the high-speed rail services being introduced in France and Japan, wondered how they could similarly speed up travel without building a dedicated parallel rail network (as those two countries were doing). </span></span></p><p><span><span>By tilting, the train could go around curves designed for slower trains at higher speeds without causing undue discomfort to passengers</span></span></p><p><strong>Used resources:</strong></p><ul><li><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_Poland">http://en.wikip… href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_Poland">http://www.rail… href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High-speed_rail_in_Poland">http://en.wikip… photo from:&nbsp;<a href="http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/passenger/single-view/view/polish-pe…;

About Georgia: Newspappers and Internet Sites in English Language

17 December, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 7 seen

<p>The other day I was contacted by one of the local Georgian English-language newspaper offering me to write some articles for them.</p><p>I don't know did this offer included some payment as well (actually I have no idea how journalists receives salary - either they have some contract salary, maybe they receive per written words or it's all about sponsored stories - if you are a journalist - please leave me a comment regarding this)</p><p>Though this offer might sound tempting - I doubt I have any journalist talent, and instead of building traffic and awareness for others I prefer <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/blog-statistics">build traffic and awareness for my blog</a>. But I agree such deal might sound tempting and there is nothing wrong with it.</p><p>Anyway I decided to give a brief overview of newsletters in Georgia written in English language:</p><h2>Georgian Journal</h2><p><span>Welcome to the first English-speaking news channel in Georgia, provided by the Palitra&nbsp;Media House - the largest independent publishing house in the country. With our brand new internet television site we are proud to serve both English-speaking audiences in Georgia and abroad with breaking stories and with features relevant to the English speaking community.</span></p><p><br><span>We are a new site, a new product and a new team comprised of seasoned journalists. We welcome as much feedback as possible. Tell us how you want your news and we will try to make it happen.&nbsp;</span><br><br><span>We are here to provide quality balanced news and to save your time by processing and filtering relent media into English. Yet our goal can only be truly achieved if our audience works with us and provides requests and suggestions for how we should grow and shape our website.&nbsp;</span></p><p><span><a href="http://www.georgianjournal.ge">www.georgianjournal.ge</a></span></p><h2… is operated by The FINANCIAL, US focused newspaper with offices in Tbilisi, Georgia and Kiev, Ukraine. Website provides daily news updates of up to 1 000 global companies worldwide.</span></span></p><p><span><span><a href="http://finchannel.com">http://finchannel.com</a></span></span></p><h2><… Today</span></span></h2><p align="justify">Georgia Today is Georgia’s leading independent English-language newspaper, published weekly since 2000. Georgia Today is distributed throughout Georgia and internationally, and has an office on the East Coast USA. With the largest distribution area and the highest quality of printing and layout, we pride ourselves on Georgia Today’s reliability, professionalism and constant striving for improvement.</p><p align="justify">Georgia Today aims to create the most comprehensive, objective, and unbiased information about contemporary Georgia and spread it throughout the world. However, we recognize that any international workers or visitors to Georgia rely almost solely on the English-language press for information on news and current events, so our local and international editorial staff ensure that Georgia Today provides a sensible balance for its diverse readership.</p><p dir="ltr" align="left">We hope you enjoy your time with us.</p><p dir="ltr" align="left"><a href="http://www.georgiatoday.ge">www.georgiatoday.ge</a></p><h2 dir="ltr" align="left">The Messenger</h2><p dir="ltr" align="left"><span>The Messenger, published daily in Tbilisi, is the Georgia's leading English language daily newspaper.</span></p><div>The Georgian Messenger was first published on February 25, 1919, during the time of the first Georgian independent democratic republic (1918-1921). On February 25, 1921, Russian Bolsheviks occupied Georgia. The Editor-in-Chief of the newspaper at that time was Elisabeth Orbeliani. The original Georgian Messenger was a weekly newspaper and only 13 issues were ever published.</div><div>The newspaper was revived in October 1990 after Georgia regained its independence from the Soviet Union. The Georgian Messenger was then published irregularly until August 1993 under Irakli Kenchoshvili.</div><div>The Editor-in-Chief of&nbsp;<em>The Messenger</em>&nbsp;is Zaza Gachechiladze, Ph.D, a specialist in English literature and the author of books on Dylan Thomas and Geoffrey Chaucer. Before the Messenger, he founded and was Editor-in-Chief of the English language Georgian Times from 1994-2001.</div><div>The Messenger's subscribers include foreign embassies and governments, NGOs, top hotels, airlines and other businesses, as well as home readers. It is distributed in more than twenty countries throughout the world including the United States, Britain, Germany, Russia, Ukraine, Holland, France, Iran and Turkey.</div><div>Among the newspaper's contributors are leading experts in political science, economics and Georgian culture. The Messenger's reporters work throughout Georgia to cover breaking news stories and explain their significance, providing a vital source of information both for those living here and those planning to visit Georgia for the first time.</div><div>The newspaper's coverage includes Georgia and the South Caucasus, as well as the broader post-Soviet space.</div><div>The Messenger's trusted reporting is regularly cited by analysts with the Jamestown Foundation and Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty among others, and its editors have been interviewed by BBC World, the Guardian, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer and other leading news outlets.</div><div>&nbsp;</div><div><a href="http://www.messenger.com.ge">http://www.messenger.com.ge</a></div><div>… can find your free copy of these newspappers at <a title="Tbilisi Airport" href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/tbilisi-airport">airports</a&gt;, your hotel lobby, popular restaurants and other places.</div><div>Time afer time I visit some hotel lobby or some restaurant just to read those newspappers. Once I even tried to make a <a href="http://www.reinisfischer.com/spar-enters-georgian-market-scania-produce… Press Review</a>.</div><div>Hope this helps</div>

Zakhar Zakharich - Tbilisi Restaurant Review

16 December, 2014 | Restaurant reviews | 36 seen

Welcome to another review of another great Tbilisi Restaurant. Today I'll share my thoughts of one of the hidden treasures I discovered just yesterday - Zakhar Zakharich restaurant.

For a prelude: I'm an expat living in Georgia (Tbilisi). You can find some articles covering topic Living in Georgia. I'm huge lover of restaurants and coffee shops, and Living in Georgia I have came even a bigger fan of eating outside the home. 

Since I'm eating out pretty regular - there are my favourite places, then there are places, that once was my favourite places, and then there are places better to avoid. 

I'm willing to make an description of them and to photograph the food I have tasted on those places.

Please note, this is just my subjective opinion.  For taking photographs I'm using my Samsung phone and using Instagram (then taking them from Instagram and adding to posts - you can read a blog post on how I turned my Instagram account into a photo blog

Now - Zakhar Zakharich restaurant is located just right next to Dry Bridge on the Right bank (please see map at the end of this post, for more detailed location). 

I must agree I feel a little ashamed - I didn't know of such excellent restaurant in Tbilisi before and this was my first time visiting it.

Entrance doors at Zakhar Zakharich restaurant in Tbilisi

At start I was pretty sceptical of this place, because of - there were no happy customers, there were no customers at all at time we opened it's front door.

Empty hall at Zakhar Zakharcih

So after approaching bar counter to look for some waitress, we decided to play safe and order just a few items.

Bar counter at Zakhar Zakharich

Menu at Zakhar Zakharich

7 khinkali with chopped meat, 3 khinkali with potatoes, vareniki and Kubdari - nothing much, but for a test pretty good. In fact there are not many places I know about were you could get vareniki in Tbilisi.

Painting at Zakhar Zakharich

While our food was prepared I tried to make some instagrams of interior - made just this (see above)

Clay plates at Zakhar Zakharich

Finally our ordered food was served

Kubdari at Zakhar Zakharich

This was kinda interesting experience - usually kubdari is made from chopped meat while khinkali from minced meat. At Zakhar Zakharich Kubdari was made from minced meat, while khinkali from chopped meat. I must agree - first bites from this Kubdari was excellent, but latter it didn't tasted so great (I do not preffer minced meat)

Khinkali at Zakhar Zakharich

Honestly speaking - I'm not a huge fan of khinkali, reason usually they are made from minced meat. But those at Zakhar Zakharich made from chopped meat, made me realize khinkali are damned tasty (if prepared right)

Khinkali filled with potatoes

Vareniki at Zakhar Zakharich restaurant

Thoug Vareniki is more pan-Slavic meal than Georgian, they tastes great especially with sour cream

While I was capturing these delicious meals, it turned out empty hall at Zakhar Zakharich is not anymore empty

Folks gathering at Zakhar Zakharich

In conclusion

Our overall bill at Zakhar Zakharich was around 34 GEL (for a large Kubdari, chopped khinkali, khinkali with potatoes filling, vareniki, some Turksih coffee and soda. It might sound a bit pricey if compared to other Tbilisi places, but I assure you every tetri was worth of it - because of food was really qualitative.

Can I recommend this place? Definitely, go visit it!

ProCredit Bank Georgia will use Toyota Hybrid cars

14 December, 2014 | Living in Georgia | 9 seen

<p><span>Checking my internet bank for savings report I found an article informing that ProCredit bank Georgia has bought 10 hybrid Toyota cars and starting now they will be used in Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.</span></p><p><span>I guess it won't impact much my savings but it's good know, that bank which services I'm using is concerned of&nbsp;sustainable&nbsp;energy. So it's my pleasure to promote them on my blog.</span></p><p><span><img src="http://www.reinisfischer.com/sites/default/files/procreditbank.jpg&quot; alt="Toyota Hybrid cars" title="Toyota Hybrid cars" width="960" height="692"></span></p><p><em>Toyota Hybrid cars</em></p><p><span>ProCredit Bank stands for environmental leadership in its operations. In line with this commitment, the bank upgraded its vehicle fleet by purchasing new 10 hybrid Toyota cars.</span><br><span>Hybrid cars have improved fuel efficiency and caused lower CO2 emissions, especially in cities. If the speed is not more than 60 km/h, the gasoline engine switches off and the car runs on its electric motor. The new hybrids have already been distributed among three strategic cities of ProCredit bank - Tbilisi, Kutaisi and Batumi.</span></p><p><span><strong>Asmus Rotne, General Manager of ProCredit Bank:</strong><em>"Environmental problems are of great concern for the ProCredit Group, and we are investing in new solutions. Using modern technologies like hybrid, we can contribute to improving air quality in the biggest cities in Georgia as well as to fighting the problem of climate change”.</em></span></p><p><span><em><a href="http://www.procreditbank.ge/index.php?component=NEWS&amp;item_id=186">h… Hybrid Vehicle</h2><p>A hybrid vehicle is a vehicle that uses two or more distinct power sources to move the vehicle.The term most commonly refers to hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), which combine an internal combustion engine and one or more electric motors. However, other mechanisms to capture and use energy are included.</p><p><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hybrid_vehicle">http://en.wikipedia.org/wi… &amp; 2015 New Toyota Hybrids</h2><p>From the Toyota Prius, with its aerodynamic styling and EPA 51 mpg rating7, to the 200 Hybrid System Net HP Camry Hybrid, one of the most fuel-efficient sedans in its class, Toyota hybrids are designed to create harmony between man, nature and machine. Browse all of the new hybrids, including the Highlander Hybrid, Avalon Hybrid, and the Prius Family, and discover legendary efficiency, reliability and power for the 21st century. Customize your vehicle your way with your hands on the wheel, to parallel parking with your hands off it. Seems the only thing Toyota hybrids can’t help you do is waste fuel.</p><p><a href="http://www.toyota.com/hybrid/">http://www.toyota.com/hybrid/</a></p&gt;